Harold F. Pottorf

Harold 'Hal' Franklin Pottorf, 84, died Saturday, May 24, at Midland Hospice, Topeka. He was born November 3, 1924, near Oskaloosa, to Frank Albert and Dorothy (Edwards) Pottorf. In 1942, two weeks after graduating from Oskaloosa Rural High School, he was in US Army Air Corps basic training at Wichita Falls,TX. In 1944, he received his pilots wings as a Second Lt and was sent to Misamari, India to fly with the Air Transport Command in the CBI (China, Burma, India) Theater. As a 'Hump Pilot', he flew 85 round trips, 170 combat missions, over the Himalayas. Among many awards are the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1945 he returned stateside and was honorably discharged.

He dusted crops and worked for the KS State Highway Dept. until 1948, and was the First Assistant Co. Engineer of Leavenworth Co. until 1949, when his more than 45 years in the insurance business started with the Penn Mutual. In 1952, he became a General Agent with Security Benefit Life, and later the Director of Training and Assistant Agency Vice President. He received many awards and graduate certificates from the LUTC, a CLU degree, and acted as an advisor with numerous insurance companies until his retirement.

He was Past Master of Oskaloosa Lodge # 14, AF&AM and President of the Arab Shrine Aviation Unit. He enjoyed ham radio, photography, custom rifle building, hunting, fishing, restoring antique cars, and the aircraft at the Combat Air Museum, and playing cards with his friends. Hal's greatest passions were flying and his wife Dolores.

He married Dolores Jean Byers on March 20, 1949 and moved to Topeka. Survivors include his wife Dolores, of Topeka; children, Scott Pottorf of Orange Park, FL; Brett Pottorf of Topeka; grandchildren, Cameron and Sterling Pottorf; Brother, Bud Pottorf of Oskaloosa; double cousins Mike Pottorf of Bonita Springs, FL; R.G. Pottorf of Topeka; and other cousins. His generosity, wit and wisdom will be greatly missed by all his friends and family. A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 PM, Fri., May 29, 2009, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence. Graveside honors will be conducted at Mount Hope Cemetery by Oskaloosa Lodge # 14, AF & AM; Carbondale Lodge # 70, AF & AM; and Philip Billard Post # 1650, V.F.W. Hal will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Thurs., at the funeral chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606-2800 or Shriners Children's Hospital Travel Fund c/o Arab Shrine, 1305 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66612.